About this project

The Occupy Wall Street movement has put a spotlight on US Constitutional rights to freedom of assembly. Where and how can people congregate publicly today? Whose voices are heard? What factors limit participation of minorities? Forty social scientists, planners, architects, artists, and civil liberties experts explore the definition, use, role, and importance of public space for the exercise of democratic rights to free expression in a time of profound social change. This original, foundational work puts issues of democracy and civic engagement back into the center of dialogue about the built environment.

Our book will be a timely resource for activists, policymakers, professionals, students, and educators interested in issues of free speech, public space, equity, and democracy. Contributing authors counter the repressive and violent responses to legitimate public protest with a reasoned outcry and suggest practical and openhearted alternatives that citizens can celebrate.

Advance Praise for Beyond Zuccotti Park“Beyond Zuccotti Park is an insightful and relevant book that challenges us to think differently about the role of public space for civic engagement. If you believe in the First Amendment's right to freedom of assembly, then this is the book to read.” —Mitchell Silver, AICP, President, American Planning Association

“What was it about Zuccotti Park, and other public spaces around the world, that helps explain their success? And how can we preserve and strengthen such spaces as places of protest? This book, like Zuccotti itself, is a site of vigorous conversation, hard thinking, and bold proposals on such issues.” —Mike Wallace, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian

"A free and open public discussion is well understood to be fundamental to a democracy. Beyond Zuccotti Park confirms how important accessible open space is to that public discussion and illuminates the policy issues raised by the Occupy Wall Street movement. The diverse collection of voices here raise important questions about how to define a genuine public space."—Roberta Brandes Gratz, author of The Battle For Gotham: New York in the Shadow of Robert Moses and Jane Jacobs

Greater InitiativeBeyond Zuccotti Park is the key component of a larger
initiative—Democracy, Equity, and Public
Space—which also includes a traveling multimedia exhibit,
public forums, popular and academic study groups, and policy advocacy. Book tours, forums, and exhibits are slated for New York, Newark,
Oakland/Berkeley, Chicago, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Washington DC,
and Boston. Together, the book and initiative aim to engage the public in promoting democracy and equity, building understanding, and improving the
design, use, and access to public spaces for social inclusion and free creative
expression.

Beyond Zuccotti:
Exhibition as Occupation runs at the Helfand Gallery, Center for Architecture New York, September 6–22, with a performance art
opening September 6, a book launch program September 10, and a public
symposium, Democracy, Equity, and Public Space, September 16 to celebrate the anniversary of Occupy Wall Street (September 17).

Beyond Zuccotti Park is a collaboration of the Center for Architecture, City College of
New York School of Architecture, and the Pratt Graduate Center for Planning and
the Environment together with New Village Press and its parent organization,
Architects/Designers/Planners for Social Responsibility. The project was spawned by free public forums—Freedom of
Assembly: Public Space Today—held at the Center for Architecture in response to
the forced clearance of Occupy activities from public plazas throughout the
country.

"Laws alone cannot secure freedom of expression; in order that every man present his views without penalty there must be a spirit of tolerance in the entire population."—Albert Einstein, Out of My Later Years (1950)

Be a Kickstarter backer!Even though we've reached our Kickstarter goal which will cover printing costs for the book, your financial support is still critically needed to help us launch the important advocacy initiative for free and open public space that this book is just the beginning of.

New Village Press is a division of the 501c3 nonprofit Architects/Designers/Planners for Social Responsibility. Your contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. A big huzzah to Amy Hagedorn, our Kickstarter of Honor, for giving the project its initial seed money!

Big big thanks to video producers David Frisco, Dora Blount, and Jesse Gutierrez. Special thanks to photographer Brennan Cavanaugh for providing many of the still photos in the video.

FAQ

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Rewards

Pledge $5 or more

HELP LEVEL: A warm public thank you with your name on our project website (if desired).

Estimated delivery:Oct 2012

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Pledge $15 or more

8 backers

CARE LEVEL: A digital copy of the Beyond Zuccotti Park book essay "Openhearted Cities" by Lynne Elizabeth. Plus a public thank you with your name on our project website (if desired).

Estimated delivery:Sep 2012

You selected

Pledge $25 or more

23 backers

AWARENESS LEVEL: An awesome digital e-pub of the complete book Beyond Zuccotti Park for your favorite e-reader. Plus a public thank you with your name on our project website (if desired).

Estimated delivery:Oct 2012

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Pledge $50 or more

30 backers

ENGAGEMENT LEVEL: A beautiful print copy and digital e-pub of the book Beyond Zuccotti Park. Plus a public thank you at our New York launch and your name on our project website (if desired).

Estimated delivery:Oct 2012

You selected

Pledge $100 or more

27 backers

ACTIVISM LEVEL: A VIP invitation to the opening of our exhibit in New York, Beyond Zuccotti Park: Exhibition as Occupation. Plus a beautiful print copy and digital e-pub of the book Beyond Zuccotti Park. Also a public thank you with your name on our project website (if desired).

Estimated delivery:Oct 2012

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Pledge $250 or more

2 backers

COMMUNITY BUILDING LEVEL: A copy of the book Building Commons and Community by the late community activist Karl Linn, plus a beautiful print copy and digital e-pub of the book Beyond Zuccotti Park. And a public thank you with your name on our project website (if desired).

Estimated delivery:Oct 2012

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Pledge $300 or more

1 backer

FREE SPEECH LEVEL: A copy of the book Undoing the Silence by free-speech and peace activist Louise Dunlap. Plus a beautiful print copy of the book Beyond Zuccotti Park. Beyond Zuccotti exhibition and book event invitations and a public thank you with your name on our project website (if desired).

Estimated delivery:Oct 2012

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Pledge $500 or more

1 backer

LEADERSHIP LEVEL: A copy of What We See: Advancing the Observations of Jane Jacobs. VIP invitations to the Beyond Zuccotti exhibition and book launch. Plus a beautiful print copy or e-pub of the book Beyond Zuccotti Park. And a public thank you with your name on our project website (if desired).

Estimated delivery:Oct 2012

You selected

Pledge $1,000 or more

1 backer

CELEBRATION LEVEL: Acknowledgment in the Beyond Zuccotti Park exhibition. Plus print copy of the book Beyond Zuccotti Park and a gift package of New Village titles: Building Commons and Community by the late community activist Karl Linn; What We See, a compendium of essays honoring the late community activist Jane Jacobs; and Service-Learning in Design and Planning by community activist, educator, and planner Tom Angotti! Also a public thank you with your name on our project website (if desired). All the editors will raise a glass of something bubbly to toast you!

Estimated delivery:Oct 2012

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Pledge $1,111 or more

0 backers

HUMANITARIAN LEVEL: For 1%ers who wish to support the 99% we jump up and down in thanks and offer eleven copies of Beyond Zuccotti Park. Also VIP invitations to our book launch and exhibition in New York and a public thank you with your name on our project website (if desired). The New Village staff will also write you a handwritten thank you letter!

Estimated delivery:Oct 2012

You selected

Pledge $2,500 or more

1 backer

BEST FRIEND LEVEL: For those backing on this level we give our sincere appreciation for your love and support of our work. We are happy to send you copies of everything New Village Press publishes (as you wish). We'll also gratefully acknowledge you on our project website (if desired).

Estimated delivery:Oct 2012

Funding period

Jul 16, 2012 - Aug 15, 2012
(30 days)

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